Take it to the track...whatever!

[LifeIsGood]

I've been a member/owner here for a couple of years now...and I've read 'take it to the track' about a gabillion times...and it's starting to wear thin on me.

I've only been on a track once and it was a whole lot of fun, but going to the track is probably a 2-3 times a year deal, max...more likely closer to zero times a year. This wonderful phrase can be found in any thread about a viper crash or...oh my gosh...spirited driving (and the never to be mentioned street racing or exceeding the speed limits ).

I find it hard to believe that viper owners are cruising around doing the speed limit all the time, waiting on that 'oh so special track day'. I enjoy the occasional spirted drive, wheel spin and burn out...am I just a bad egg?
I do not race anybody on the street, but I don't mind breaking the speed limit or putting on a little show for some kids or admirers. Should I be flogged?
I guess I should be taking the whole 'take it to the track' mentality as a by-product of this site which seems to have a number of lets say...mature members. I guess I'm just missing the boat and should just accept that I'm a bad person .

Thanks for listening (um, I mean reading).

 

[bmw2nv2000]

It looks like Im in the same category as you. I will hit the strip(no road course close to me) ever once in a while but 90% of my spirited driving is done on the street. I just use some common sense on where and when I do it.
Crap I guess I am a bad person too

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Spirited driving isn't any big deal. Reasonably exceeding the speed limit isn't any big deal. Lighting 'em up isn't any big deal. A short blast is no big deal. High speeds in the middle of nowhere is no big deal.

The big deal is when you take any of those beyond your abilities. It's those people who get the "take it to the track" treatment as they should.

Understand now?

 

[LifeIsGood]

The big deal is when you take any of those beyond your abilities. It's those people who get the "take it to the track" treatment as they should.

Understand now?

To me...the 'beyond your abilities' means...your an idiot . I was very careful when I bought my 2001 3 years ago with original tires still on it. I could spin the car around with little effort, but once I got new rubber and lots of braking power, I've been more aggressive in my driving habits...not irresonsible, but definitely more aggressive. It's fun to have this power under the hood and stopping power at the corners.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

no road course close to me

Barber Motorsports Park : Contact Us
Three hours from you.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

To me...the 'beyond your abilities' means...your an idiot . I was very careful when I bought my 2001 3 years ago with original tires still on it. I could spin the car around with little effort, but once I got new rubber and lots of braking power, I've been more aggressive in my driving habits...not irresonsible, but definitely more aggressive. It's fun to have this power under the hood and stopping power at the corners.

Great, you understand now. But if you think spirited street driving is so much fun you really should try some real tracks. Being in Colorado you've got some great ones to choose from.

Colorado Region SCCA

 

[mattdillon]

To me...the 'beyond your abilities' means...your an idiot . I was very careful when I bought my 2001 3 years ago with original tires still on it. I could spin the car around with little effort, but once I got new rubber and lots of braking power, I've been more aggressive in my driving habits...not irresonsible, but definitely more aggressive. It's fun to have this power under the hood and stopping power at the corners.

Well, I just put new tires on mine couple days ago (Thanks JonB by the way, ordered late Fri. got them on Mon.) My tires were almost new BUT 10 years old. I really didn't understand how much new tires could make that kind of a difference(these Kumhos feel like they have stick-um on them)Now Vipers are not as hard to drive as original thought. But I also know they can get away from you in a second. I would never even think about going to a track even if I went to a driving school. (I know most guys say they're only a car) but I could not imagine slamming into a wall(and I have seen it at our local speedway, when they let the spectators race) it was a Viper truck, before that he was spankin everybody. Only takes 1 time. I guess we're just a few Fluddy-Duddies.Lol

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

and I have seen it at our local speedway, when they let the spectators race

I'm guessing that was an oval right? Ovals are for stock cars. When you hear folks saying "take it to the track" they typically mean a road course or dragstrip which are much safer than some tight 1/4 mile oval. If you wreck an 11-second car at a dragstrip you should probably have all driving privileges revoked for life as well as your voter registration card. As for road courses, the folks that are afraid of wrecking - typically beginners, almost never do.

You have a road course nearby too.
No Problem Raceway - Road Course Information

 

[plumcrazy]

Omg, this might be the third time this year LIG and I agree..

 

[ViperTony]

LIG...you must have too much time on your hands to be worrying about what others say on this site...perhaps your time may be better spent TAKING IT TO THE TRACK!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[mattdillon]

Chuck, you're right it was an oval track. I guess that definitely would make a difference. I guess we don't have a road course around here that I'm aware of. Unless it's out in the country rolling hills of La. Lol

 

[LifeIsGood]

TAKING IT TO THE TRACK!

Frickin' frackin' mother whackin' piece of #$@%&!

 

[kcobean]

Ask Wallbanger if he was driving beyond his abilities. I hate to use his misfortune as an example and genuinely wish him the best possible outcome, but his accident is a perfect example of what can happen when you introduce potentially dozens of variables beyond your control when driving in a 'high risk' manner. Is that to say we don't all (well, most of us) pick those opportunities to enjoy our cars when the risk is minimized to a reasonable extent? Of course not.

But the stated mission of the Viper Club of America includes:

"To help members have more fun with their Vipers. To encourage and promote the admiration for and the ownership, care and maintenance with safe and courteous operation of the VIPER automobile."

and

To further the interest of owners and drivers of the VIPER and to promote the safety and enjoyment of motoring in all phases.

and

To operate within the scope of the law.


When you go to a track, all drivers assume the risk associated with the activity. When you drive on the street, you have a responsibility to minimize the risk you thrust upon those around you. So as someone stated earlier, the occasional highway blast or spirited run isn't necessarily a bad thing, but high risk behavior like 'racing' in traffic, etc....that's idiotic and you should....take it to the track. I think that's what most people mean when they make that statement (at least that's how I interpret it.)

 

[LifeIsGood]

Maybe I shouldn't renew my VCA membership next year since I have zero intentions...

To operate within the scope of the law.

...like I stated before...breaking the speed limit doesn't really hurt my feelings.

 

[kcobean]

Maybe I shouldn't renew my VCA membership next year since I have zero intentions...


...like I stated before...breaking the speed limit doesn't really hurt my feelings.

LOL..nor mine. I'm not all that known for driving the speed limit, but I try hard to keep it safe.

You have to renew your membership....you're YELLOW!!!

 

[ViperGeorge]

I drive above the speed limit occasionally as well. Usually on the interstates where I might go 10-15 over, ok sometimes short bursts higher when there is no traffic around (especially when I'm driving back from VOI with the CO club). Sometimes around town I might push a local speed limit to 40 in a posted 30. But drive triple digit speeds on country roads or on other than an interstate, no. That is insane and usually ends in disaster.

Look at the crash photos from the Sherman CT crash. That car must have been going waaay over the speed limit given the damage. Is it worth it? Ever since I started "taking it to the track" I find I drive more conservatively on the road. There are times on the track where you lose it or just about lose it and you realize that on a public road you could have been in a world of hurt. So I still say take it to the track.

 

[ViperGTS]

s.p.e.e.d.l.i.m.i.t........w.h.a.t.?

 

[Bill Pemberton Woodhouse]

Hmmm.............sounds to me like you should get together with some of your crazy Colorado members and wander to Hastings , Nebraska this June. You can likely speed a bit on the highway , as it is 75 mph legally on the Interstate in Nebraska , and a bit over ( say even 80 ) still gets you up to a nice cruise . Once you get to Motorsport Park Hastings MPH Road Course Race Car Driving School & Race Track Rental - Host a Corporate Event at Our Motorsports Country Club you can run with other Vipers , run go karts, have a few drinks with other Viper owners, and therefore you can sit down and have a very meaningful discussion on whether you are a bad egg or not.

My suggestion is after a full day at the track, have a few brewskis at the track bar, buy a few for your friends, or to help make new friends , and bingo -----------you will get a very sympathic ear.

 

[JonB]

What Chuck Said....and a bit more:

You cannot learn to drive better by fast bursts of speed on the street or highways or backroads. So your safety, and others, may be at risk. Especially on old tires!

The Viper's performance exceeds the driving skills of many un-trained drivers, and for those owners to exceed the limits of traction comes much sooner than those who have completed a driving school or two. The same was true for me in 1993, despite a resume of high-performance priors.

Since most high-performance driving schools are at a race track, the advice stands.

MattDillon above, was owner # 16,217 that discovered how NEW, GRIPPY TIRES can instantly and significantly transform your ability to handle and enjoy your car, and make it much safer. And if he elects to take an HPDE class he will undoubtedly learn even a higher level of skills, and be even safer when he, [you, I, or anyone,] push the speed limits, but more importantly push the handling limits of our cars.

Be Safe Out There......and to get safer, you know where to take it.............

 

[CHAOS]

JonB

http://forums.viperclub.org/performance-modifications/640702-smooth-tube-gen-3-vipers.html

Any help on this other thread? Sorry for the interuption on your track thread

 

[plumcrazy]

You cannot learn to drive better by fast bursts of speed on the street or highways or backroads.

long VERY high speed runs for extended periods of time will though !

 

[LifeIsGood]

JonB

http://forums.viperclub.org/performance-modifications/640702-smooth-tube-gen-3-vipers.html

Any help on this other thread? Sorry for the interuption on your track thread

Chaos...don't worry...if there's a dollar to be made selling something...he'll sniff it out.

 

[MichaelThurston]

At what speed do the cops take you to jail and sell your car? I would say don't take it to the track as driving on the street is boring thereafter. Every single lap you are full throttle (for more then 4 seconds) and full breaking. Hitting 145 on the straights and taking corners at 110. I'm not going to do that on any mountain roads.

 

[plumcrazy]

sorry but 145 is boring

 

[LifeIsGood]

sorry but 145 is boring

I can't wait until this is true for me .

 

[shooter_t1]

So I guess 175+ is a no-no huh?

 

[AFL in NJ]

I don't think many of us stick to speed limits....I'm sure a lot of club members are successfully financially from taking calculated risks and their risk proved correct and they made enough to afford a Viper and some other daily driver. For those types who calculate risk well, we make decent Viper owners....however anyone can find themselves in a situation where the road conditions change instantly and what was safe a moment before isn't safe now. It is in those instances each fall we see or hear a rash of accidents that concern all of us.

From what I've understood over my time as a VCA member is that the club encourages those of us who are constantly pushing their car at 7/10ths or more of what it can do to spend as much time at a track as possible as we don't want accidents on the streets that might bring perceived negative attention to the vast capabilities of our cars.

I enjoy driving my Viper, the smile it brings to my face and the pride I have in owning it. I want to keep my Viper throughout my life, so I drive my car at a lot less of its limit because of this. For each of you, you have your choice and no one should tell you what to do.

Regards,
Aaron

 

[FrankBarba]

JonB....Is an assett to the Viper Community. Why are you geing so ******* JonB for trying to help. Also you really should get to your local road course. You can easily hit 145+ on a long front or back stgretch like VIR or Road Atlanta. You will have so much more fun on a road course than takin it to the streets.

 

[LifeIsGood]

JonB....Is an assett to the Viper Community. Why are you geing so ******* JonB for trying to help. Also you really should get to your local road course. You can easily hit 145+ on a long front or back stgretch like VIR or Road Atlanta. You will have so much more fun on a road course than takin it to the streets.

I'm assuming you're speaking to me...my relationship with the afore mentioned is none of your business. He isn't the great guy alot of you seem to think he is...saving $50 on a set of tires isn't the end all be all. He has faults just like the rest of us and his absolutely rub me the wrong way...but thanks for your valuable post in this thread.

 

[Coloviper]

Ken;

This whole thread makes absolutely no sense to me. You hitting the bottle over the holiday or what? Jon B has bent over backwards to help me thus far numerous times over the years (which I greatly appreciate) so not sure what you are driving at with this whole thread anyway, but I see no reason for you to hammer on someone like him. Renew? Move on? It makes no difference to me what you decide to do. I will be gladly renewing as this club has been one of the better auto experiences in my life over the past 4+ years.

That is the great thing about the USA, you can choose do whatever you want. Your whole thread and your responses are extremely puzzling to me.